SYMPOSIUM WOLVES 2015

JAPAN/USA/GERMANY

SYMPOSIUM WOLVES 2015: RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION

Presented by the Japan Wolf Association

【Aim】
Restore wolves into Japan and save Japan from overabundant wildlife like sika deer!
１． To obtain the public comprehension on wolves and their restoration in Japan and to realize this aim.
２． To provide the latest information on restoration and conservation of wolves for Japanese society.
１） To know an advanced success cases on wolf return and ecosystem restoration of USA.
２） To know the German instances of acceptance and conservation of immigrant wolves into a cultural landscape.

【Subjects】
Recent social situations on management and conservation of wolves in the three countries, Japan, USA, and Germany.
１． Public attitude (favor, fear, ignorance, and tolerance) against wolves.
２． To make public consensus, and education and enlightenment on coexistence with wolves.
３． Control effect of wolves on populations of ungulates and other wild mammals.
４． Depredation of wolves on free-living livestock like sheep and cattle and the possibility of occurrence in Japan.

【Main speakers】
David Mech (USA) PhD, Senior Scientist with the Biological Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota.
Markus Bathen (Germany): Forester and Wolf Specialist at the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, Germany(NABU)
Naoki Maruyama (Japan): PhD, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo Noko University, President of the Japan Wolf Association

RESTORE WOLVES TO JAPAN ！

However, not only the extinction of wolves should be considered. Other species of animal, extinct or endangered are important.

What makes the wolf such a prime subject for discussion?

The wolf is the keystone species that sits at the top of the food chain.

We would like to explain our views on how the present ecosystemic situation is leading to ruin and how we can create an ideal state through reconstruction.

Biological diversity of an ecosystem is a chief indicator of health

The countless species of life that co-exist in organic substances such as soil, air and water interrelate creating biological diversity and an ecosystem that stabilizes our environment. Since the beginning of the earth 45 million years ago, these organisms in their environment have constantly been forced to interact with new environmental material, affecting biodiversity. Through this interaction, varieties of environmental ecosystems continually emerge, bring a new evolutionary element through varied conditions, and many new species of life is created. This is the way of the earth’s biosphere. Therefore, current biodiversity should be a matrix in which future, more advanced biological diversity evolves. Until recently the earth’s biosphere was fit for serving as a comfortable space in which species of life could be produced and exist.

An ecosystem with advanced biodiversity is valuable for human and the evolution of other organisms. Without these ecosystems, we humans can’t survive, and that is not an exaggeration.

Biodiversity of the ecosystem is a major indicator that reflects the degree of health of our planet.

Restoring top predators into the ecosystem is the first step in restoring a healthy ecosystem.

The history of mankind is the destruction of nature. Because of this, the scale of biodiversity has been decreasing to meet our demand for infinite development, losing many biological species along the way. Each extinct species affects human life. So, the recovery of endangered species and their habitat, in addition to recovery of the ecosystem at large is our responsibility and is crucial for our survival.

In Japan, during this modern era, many species have become extinct, crucially disrupting the natural ecosystems. Many people are aware of wolf extinction that occurred a century ago; in addition to the more recent problems with populations of otters, storks, and the Japanese crested ibis. Fortunately, the stork and Japanese crested ibis populations are starting to grow again. However, otters are still forgotten. Wolves continue to be ignored.

Extinct species, particularly the vertices of predators in the ecological network (keystone species) must exist for an ecosystem to remain healthy. A century ago in Japan the gray wolf was the irreplaceable vertex predator.

Reviving wolves is crucial to protect agriculture, forestry and fisheries within the Japanese ecosystem. In addition, these creatures are important in controlling the population of deer and wild boar. This top of the food chain predator should be reintroduced for ecosystem restoration. We can make it happen right now. In the international community, the protection of wolves is common sense.

Wolf restoration is deeply rooted in the issue of biological diversity protection

The idea of dividing our natural world into two categories: that which is useful for humans and that which is harmful to humans is a very egoistic viewpoint. An ecological view of nature (with importance placed on biodiversity) means that human beings can only exist with nature, and we are kept alive through nature. The latter opinion cannot reconcile with the egoistic point of view.

The Japanese Wolf Association is working on restoring the balance of our ecosystem based on the idea that biodiversity must coexist with human beings. We currently have three proposals:

1.The reintroduction of extinct species, including wolves
2.A full-time employment system of hunters funded by local governments.
3.The construction of wide-area fences (or walls) to prevent human intrusion of deer and wild boar.